US6055548A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computerized spreadsheet with auto-calculator
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1996-06-03
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Granted: 2000-04-25
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Expires: 2016-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A computerized spreadsheet automatically calculates a function using a set of selected cells as the cells are selected and immediately displays the result in real-time, without requiring entry of a function into a cell to perform the calculations. The computerized spreadsheet has multiple cells which are selectable by an indicator, such as a pointer or highlight bar. As the author selects one or more cells, an auto-calculator automatically calculates a preset function using the one or more selected cells and displays the result. For example, suppose the function is to sum all the values in a group of cells. As the author selects the cells within the group, the auto-calculator quickly computes the sum of the presently selected cells and displays the result. If the author changes the selection, the calculation is continuously updated and displayed in real-time. In this manner, the author can view intermediate calculations without having to write or embed a formula for them within the spreadsheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross Comer
- 👤 David Russell Williams, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 03:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/177; G06F40/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A computer-implemented method for operating a computer application with spreadsheet functionality, comprising the following steps: displaying a graphical user interface window having a plurality of cells operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality and at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality; enabling selection of one or more of the plurality of cells; automatically computing an operator-defined function, based solely on the selected cells as inputs, to produce a result as the cells are being selected without entering the function into a non-selected cell; and immediately displaying the result in the at least one region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer-implemented method for operating a computer application with spreadsheet functionality, comprising the following steps: displaying a graphical user interface window having a plurality of cells operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality and at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality; enabling selection of one or more of the plurality of cells; automatically computing an operator-defined function, based solely on the selected cells as inputs, to produce a result as the cells are being selected without entering the function into a non-selected cell; and immediately displaying the result in the at least one region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more selected cells contain data, and the computing step comprises automatically computing the operator-defined function based upon the data contained in the one or more cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the following steps: enabling a user to choose another function; and subsequently automatically computing the other function using the selected cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the operator-defined function is selected from a group of functions comprising: summation, maximum, minimum, average, count, and count number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface window includes a toolbar having the at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface window includes a movable pointer having the at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality adjacent to the pointer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing step comprises automatically computing the function each time the selected cells changes from a first group of cells to a second group of cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of displaying the result from said computation each time a computation is made.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of displaying the result from said computation only after all of the cells are selected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, wherein the computing step comprises the step of computing the function using repeatedly all of the selected cells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, wherein the computing step comprises the following steps: temporarily storing the result from said computation using all previously selected cells; and computing a new result using the stored result and one or more newly selected cells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
127 words
A storage medium having executable instructions comprising: instructions to form a graphical user interface window having a plurality of cells operatively associated with a spreadsheet functionality and at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality; indicator instructions to select a set of one or more of the plurality of cells; auto-calculator instructions to automatically calculate an operator-defined function in which the set of cells selected by the indicator are sole inputs and to produce a result as the set of cells is being selected by the indicator; and interface instructions to immediately display the result computed by the auto-calculator as the set of cells is being selected in the at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
127 words
A storage medium having executable instructions comprising: instructions to form a graphical user interface window having a plurality of cells operatively associated with a spreadsheet functionality and at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality; indicator instructions to select a set of one or more of the plurality of cells; auto-calculator instructions to automatically calculate an operator-defined function in which the set of cells selected by the indicator are sole inputs and to produce a result as the set of cells is being selected by the indicator; and interface instructions to immediately display the result computed by the auto-calculator as the set of cells is being selected in the at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the operator-function is from a group of functions comprising: summation, maximum, minimum, average, count, and count number.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the instructions to form a graphical user interface window form a toolbar having the at least one data display region not operatively associated with thc spreadsheet functionality.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the instructions to form a graphical user interface window form a movable pointer and a tip window adjacent to the pointer, the tip window having the at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the auto-calculator instructions automatically calculates the operator-defined function each time the selected cells changes from a first group of cells to a second group of cells.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the auto-calculator instructions automatically calculates the operator-defined function after all of the one or more cells have been selected.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the auto-calculator instructions temporarily caches the result from a calculation involving all previously selected cells and automatically calculates a new result using the cached result and one or more newly selected cells.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer comprising: a memory; a processor; a display; an application stored in memory and executable on the processor, the application presenting on the display a graphical user interface having a plurality of selectable cells operatively associated with a spreadsheet functionality and at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality; the application being configured to automatically calculate an operator-defined function based solely on one or more selected cells as inputs to produce a result and to immediately display the result in the at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality as those cells arc selected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer comprising: a memory; a processor; a display; an application stored in memory and executable on the processor, the application presenting on the display a graphical user interface having a plurality of selectable cells operatively associated with a spreadsheet functionality and at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality; the application being configured to automatically calculate an operator-defined function based solely on one or more selected cells as inputs to produce a result and to immediately display the result in the at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality as those cells arc selected.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer as recited in claim 19, wherein the operator-defined function is from a group of functions comprising: summation, maximum, minimum, average, count, and count number.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer as recited in claim 19, wherein: the graphical user interface further includes a toolbar adjacent to the plurality of cells, the toolbar having the at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
A computer as recited in claim 19, wherein: the graphical user interface further includes a movable pointer for selecting the cells and a tip window beside the pointer, the tip window having the at least one data display region not operatively associated with the spreadsheet functionality.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer as recited in claim 19, wherein the application is configured to automatically calculate the function and immediately display the result each time the selected cells changes from a first group of cells to a second group of cells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-25 | 2003-10-25 | 2004-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-25 | 2007-10-25 | 2008-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-25 | 2011-10-25 | 2012-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |